<p>I'm taking the SAT for the second time this may and would really like to bring my math score (650) up to par with my reading and writing scores (780 and 740). I'm pretty good at math in school (taking AP calc) but I seem to struggle with getting my SAT score to match what I think are my capabilities.</p>
<p>I've got several practice tests left to do in the blue book, but I was wondering if there are any specific strategies to study with other than just working tons of problems. Or is the best thing to just complete as many practice exams as possible before test day? As I've said I'm not horrible at math or anything, I'm just looking for the best and most efficient way to get that last push into the 700+ territory.</p>
<p>PWNTHESAT guide helped me get like from around 600 to 760-780 in 1-2 weeks and then just do practice and review the concepts and ways to solve fast.</p>
<p>You’re just like me. I’m a great math student in school and until only recently I started scoring 790-800 on the math section on practice tests. I used to barely break 700 so I speak from personal experience. You’re just probably not used to the SAT questions because they are very different from what you’re used to in school. SAT I Math don’t test any complex subjects so it’s all about understanding the problem. The only way to improve your comprehension skills, I believe, is to practice. </p>
<p>So I recommend taking the OFFICIAL SAT practice tests from BB to get accustomed to College Board’s little tricks and whatnot. Yes you won’t ever see the same questions again but once you get an idea of what kinds of questions the College Board can throw at you, you will gain more confidence and find yourself knowing exactly what do. Other than that, I also occasionally do a math section or two from other books like Gruber’s or Barron’s. Their problems are usually a bit harder, which can be good exercise for your brain.</p>
<p>In summary, practice, practice, practice! Shortcuts and strategies will only get you so far but the big improvements come from cracking down and practicing!</p>
<p>I spent the better part of the afternoon on the pwnthesat website and I’m quite impressed. Other prep books just show you the math behind what you did wrong, but this one actually explains the thought processes required and ensures that you’ll know what to do if you see another problem like it.</p>
<p>I decided to buy the book so I’ll be splitting time between that the the blue book for the next two weeks. I guess what you guys are saying is that the best I can do is just a lot of practice. Hopefully I’ll be able to break that 700 marker. Now watch me regress on the english sections. :P</p>
<p>Exactly. I read pwnthesat and you do about 5 problems after each section of the explained concept. I swear before I hardly knew what to do when I saw a problem. Now the first 10-15 in sections are like a breeze takes me 10-20-30max to solve them.</p>
<p>Are you having trouble solving out the questions or not careful enough? I think you are the latter one. Actually I am too. I’m always careless so that the Math section is always on low 700s… But slow down a little bit and you’ll find things are a lot better (i did so yesterday and I got 760)!!</p>
<p>There’s only questions I don’t know what to do immediately, that’s what I’m working on. I’ve only made one careless mistake in the lasts 6-8 sections, the rest I didn’t know how to solve and either didn’t. So not really, you start to see how they work and the answer makes sense, but I do use time to check over.</p>
<p>@aaron a few of them are just careless mistakes (although that tends to happen to me more on the ACT where you are so pressed for time). But I think a lot of it is that I don’t know how to connect the math I know to the SAT style questions. I’m working on getting that down now and hopefully I’ll be able to improve.</p>
<p>I’m having a similar problem. In the BB most of my tests I was getting close to 800. I got a 640 on the real test, and I can’t explain why. Most questions I missed were the difficult ones, and just a few medium ones. I’ve found the Barron’s SAT 2400 has been kind of helpful, but most of it I already know. I love PWNtheSAT’s site and used it a bunch before the test, but I unfortunately have no more money for the book so I can’t get it. It’s the single best resource I’ve seen for the SAT though, so I really wish I could get my hands on it somehow.</p>
<p>@AK Why don’t you send pwnthesat a private message. Sometimes an author will give a copy of their book in exchange for something other than money. I’m not saying that he will definitely be able to, but if you really like his material it’s worth a try.</p>
<p>^^ He mentioned you in a Google+ post :)</p>